Published: December 04, 2007 05:43 pm      

ThyssenKrupp expands again

Project includes 116 new jobs, equipment

DANVILLE — A joint venture between ThyssenKrupp Presta and its neighbor, Systrand Presta Engine Systems, will bring 116 new jobs to the area starting next year.

The $36.3 million expansion project will add new equipment, technology upgrades and new production lines at both Danville companies, enabling them to provide assembled camshafts for new engines being developed by the automotive industry.

The production lines include new assembly and machining equipment for ThyssenKrupp Presta and new grinding equipment for Systrand Presta.

Mike Reynolds, finance director at ThyssenKrupp Presta, said ground already has been broken to begin construction on an addition at the Systrand Presta facility on Walz Creek Road in the 74 Eastgate Industrial Park.

Carlos Dias, operations manager of Systrand Presta, said the project entails “investing money in new lines for Systrand Presta.”

“We’re going to do new camshafts from U.S. markets and outside of the U.S.,” he said.

Reynolds said the expansion was necessary because of new business ThyssenKrupp recently attracted.

“We’re growing in the midst of a downturn in the automotive industry,” he said.

“These are new products we will be manufacturing,” he said. “There are new engines coming out of the Big Three automotive companies.”

The new camshafts — two for diesel applications and two for gasoline engines — will be used by the auto companies for their 2009-2010 product line, Reynolds said.

“It’s a joint effort,” he said. “ThyssenKrupp Presta will assemble the camshafts, and Systrand Presta will grind and finish them. They will then get shipped directly to the OEM (auto manufacturer).”

Hiring to fill the 116 new jobs will begin in the spring. Half of the jobs will be at ThyssenKrupp Presta, and the other half at Systrand Presta.

“We’ll be ramping up over the next two years and hiring over that time,” he said.

Assistance from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, city of Danville and Vermilion Advantage includes job-training grants to enhance work force skills, Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits and significant savings from the state and local benefits from the Danville/Tilton/Vermilion County Enterprise Zone.

ThyssenKrupp Presta’s Danville facility employs 250 and produces a wide range of assembled camshafts for the automotive and recreational vehicle markets in North and South America.

Systrand Presta Engine Systems’ Danville facility employs 81 and grinds and polishes cast and assembled camshafts for the automotive markets in North and South America.